Montgomery Co. Proposes $537.3M Budget, 50 New Jobs

CONROE, Texas – Montgomery County officials are bracing for a period of fiscal adjustment as the Commissioners Court reviews a preliminary budget of $537.3 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year, a proposal that reflects the ongoing pressure of managing one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.

County Auditor Rakesh Pandey formally presented the $537.3 million figure to the Commissioners Court on July 9. The proposed spending plan represents a 7.2 percent increase over the current $501.1 million budget, a shift necessitated by both operational costs and the mandate to serve an expanding population.

At the heart of the proposal is the general fund, set at $235.3 million—a 6.9 percent increase from the current $220.1 million. According to budget documents provided by the Auditor’s office, the primary catalyst for this spending increase is the proposed addition of 50 new full-time positions.

The allocation of these new personnel highlights the county’s focus on public safety and judicial infrastructure. The majority of the new hires are designated for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the four Constable Precincts, the District Attorney’s Office, and various district and county courts. Additional staffing is also earmarked for administrative support roles in the County Clerk’s office, the Purchasing Department, and Facilities Management to handle the increased load resulting from the county’s physical growth.

The budget proposal arrives against a backdrop of local economic tension regarding property taxes. While County Judge Mark Keough and the Commissioners have expressed an intent to lower the property tax rate, residents are cautioned that a lower rate does not necessarily equate to a lower tax bill. Because property values in Montgomery County continue to climb due to high market demand, the total tax revenue collected can rise even if the rate per $100 of valuation is reduced.

Judge Keough indicated during the July 9 session that the court is committed to exploring whether the county can sustain an even deeper cut to the tax rate than initially anticipated. These discussions are expected to dominate the upcoming budget workshops.

The county’s rapid population expansion remains the central challenge for budget planners. Infrastructure, emergency services, and administrative capacity must all scale to accommodate thousands of new residents moving into the Conroe, The Woodlands, and Montgomery areas each year.

The budget process now enters a critical window for public oversight and deliberation. The Commissioners Court has scheduled intensive budget workshops for August 11 and 12. These sessions will be followed by formal public hearings on both the proposed budget and the tax rate on August 22.

The court aims to finalize the numbers and officially adopt the budget and tax rate on September 23. The new fiscal year is set to begin on October 1.

County residents who wish to review the preliminary budget documents, monitor upcoming meeting agendas, or participate in the public hearings can find more information on the Montgomery County website at www.mctx.org. Meetings are held at the Alan B. Sadler Commissioners Court Building in Conroe and are typically broadcast via the county’s online portal for those unable to attend in person.